23rd May 2019 - Andrew

We pulled ourselves together after both having nightmarish nights with our own coffee and food on our balcony and head down to the Aio port. The traffic is extra crazy and we get involved in a two bus cluster-fuck (I reverse the hire car into a wall!). After much maneuvering we eventually make it to the bottom. There are no short boat trips available here (sad) but we stop at a restaurant Polydoros recommended and sit right on the edge of the water. C knocks a salt cellar into the ocean with a loud plop!

The food is fantastic and the service friendly and engauging. We eat:

  • Sea urchin salad/soup which is beautiful.
  • Perfect, tasty, soft grilled octopus
  • A fish platter with Bream, swordfish and grouper - all beautiful and taste different.

They also serve us a cucumber/herb cocktail called a ‘sunset’ - clean, fresh and refreshing. We try retsina which is clean, resiny, acidic and nice if unusual. Finally thick sweet greek coffee. Great food, well prepared.

After lunch we paddle our feet in the clear blue waters and head home for a swim and siesta.

23rd May 2019 - Cara

The harbour (Ammandi) is tiny and picturesque. Beautiful light blue sea with a few rowing boats anchored not far out. A narrow walkway though the three to four restaurants perched on the edge. A winding stone stairway goes up to the cliffs at the top. Ruined structures (forts?) up above on the sides of the red cliffs. Restaurateurs grilling octopus, aubergine and squid over hot coals alongside their restaurants. In the waters below our table they throw bread - tiny fishes surround it like piranha with larger fish waiting below. I can't see the salt cellar I dropped but I do see a fork.

Sunset Ammandi restaurant is wonderful. I experience a beautifully Greek interaction: When I tell the waiter that I’ve dropped his salt cellar into the sea he says, ‘Jump!’ - then immediately laughs. This is a typical Greek humour I've experienced. They deadpan but don’t hold you in it, they laugh with you immediately.

For dessert at the restaurant we have a beautiful, thick panna cotta with a thick, cherry compote over it. When Andrew tell the waiter we are going to Ikaria he is jealous, says, “They wear no watches there. That is where we go to holiday”.

22nd May 2019